Creekside Border Collies

Alex McKinven died early Wednesday morning, May 3rd, 2006 in hospital. Many handlers have benefited from his
extensive knowledge and dedication to the working Border Collie, including us. Alex got us started in this rewarding
experience of raising and training dogs. He is missed by all who knew him.

THE RAINBOW BRIDGE
(Inspired by a Norse legend)

By the edge of a woods, at the foot of a hill,
Is a lush, green meadow where time stands still.
Where the friends of man and woman do run,
When their time on earth is over and done.
For here, between this world and the next,
Is a place where each beloved creature finds rest.
On this golden land, they wait and they play,
Till the Rainbow Bridge they cross over one day.
No more do they suffer, in pain or in sadness,
For here they are whole, their lives filled with gladness.
Their limbs are restored, their health renewed,
Their bodies have healed, with strength imbued.
They romp through the grass, without even a care,
Until one day they start, and sniff at the air.
All ears prick forward, eyes dart front and back,
Then all of a sudden, one breaks from the pack.
For just at that instant, their eyes have met;
Together again, both person and pet.
So they run to each other, these friends from long past,
The time of their parting is over at last.
The sadness they felt while they were apart,
Has turned into joy once more in each heart.
They embrace with a love that will last forever,
And then, side-by-side, they cross over together.
~ Author Unknown ~

Alex McKinven came from Fifeshire, Scotland in 1950 to work as Herdsman for Mrs. Arthur Virgin's Jerseys at
Clematis Farm, in North Hatley, Québec. Alex's father had already been in Canada working on the Experimental
farm in Ottawa for a number of years. He had been importing Border Collies from Scotland through the Shepherd
retained in Fifeshire to look after the sheep.

Mrs. Virgin, however, thought that dogs were only good for biting off tails and never allowed any near her prized
Jerseys. So Alex worked for 14 years at Clematis Farm before he decided that he would have a dog regardless!
Since Mrs. Virgin lived most of the year at One Sutton Place in New York City, Alex managed to get a dog from
his father's bloodlines, and used him during the winter to move heifers and different cattle from one field to
another.

One spring, Mrs. Virgin returned to Clematis early and asked Alex to gather a bunch of heifers into the yard so
that she could look them over.

"Naturally", Alex remembers, "at that time of the year animals are apt to be frisky and full of life. They veered
away from us breaking up in two different directions. My dog was hidden upstairs in the house and was taught to
keep quiet. However, I decided it was now time for her to see a dog work! He did a wonderful job of rounding
up the scattered heifers. (Mrs. Virgin) could hardly credit her eyes. From that day on she invited all her friends
up to the farm to see my dogs work."

Alex received The Scottish Farmer and was able to keep abreast of trials and Border Collie bloodlines. In 1969,
Alex imported Meg ISDS 47267, a 2 year old bitch that became the foundation for his well known Cessnock
kennel. Meg was imported already bred to Cap ISDS 50543, who was later bought by J.J. Templeton, who
handled him to the title of Supreme Int'l Champion in 1972. Alex kept a male pup from that very first litter, and
called him Tweed.

Alex McKinven used his dogs primarily for working the farm, but as the sport of sheepdog trialing became
popular in the Northeastern United States, Alex began to fine tune his dogs on sheep.

Many successes followed through the years with notable dogs Kate (out of his imported Meg by Bob Walker's
Chip), Judy, Old Moss, Rob, Cooperlane Glen, Meg and Moss.

When Alex retired from farming, he kept up with training, and continued to produce quality working Border
Collies for new and upcoming handlers.